Photos: 3 hardware-store decorating projects

Materials: 21/2" HVAC foil tape Metal yardstick 4-foot level Steel measuring tape Utility knife Instructions: Determine the amount of foil tape you will need. Use the metal yardstick to mark 5-inch intervals along the bottom of the wall. Align a level with the marks and lightly mark the wall at intervals all the way up to the ceiling, moving the level as you go. Use the level to connect the marks, making vertical lines 5 inches apart from one another.

Materials: 3" x 3" x 21/2" x 11/2" PVC double reducing wye PVC cement 3" PVC flush cleanout Instructions: On a clean work surface, set the wye wrong-side-up, with the arms facing downward. Slide your fingers into the indentation in the cleanout to hold it and apply a liberal amount of PVC cement around the rim. Turn the wye right side up with your other hand, and slide the cleanout into it until is meets the ridge. Set the wye wrong side up on the work surface and let it dry thoroughly, for about two hours, before filling it with water.